tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6023809369245556096.post1374747075463186824..comments2024-02-01T17:19:36.475-05:00Comments on My heart goes out...: Those who try to understandCarolhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14545146592743875490noreply@blogger.comBlogger6125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6023809369245556096.post-74839884052335208442010-02-12T12:34:28.414-05:002010-02-12T12:34:28.414-05:00I find your story inspirational at at time when th...I find your story inspirational at at time when there is so much hurt and anger at "being different", you bring a refreshing perspective of love, fulfillment and friendship. Pain and confusion, sure, but such tremendous transformation. It is people like you that may be able to be a real bridge to a more compassionate community. thank you for sharing your story.Anonymoushttps://www.blogger.com/profile/01465066552511216310noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6023809369245556096.post-10660342043887344292010-02-09T10:53:47.159-05:002010-02-09T10:53:47.159-05:00Carol,
You are great! Keep on keepin' on!Carol,<br /> You are great! Keep on keepin' on!Paul Douglashttps://www.blogger.com/profile/06195064924738383359noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6023809369245556096.post-3769446697781917882010-02-09T10:52:58.393-05:002010-02-09T10:52:58.393-05:00Carol,
You are great!Carol,<br /> You are great!Paul Douglashttps://www.blogger.com/profile/06195064924738383359noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6023809369245556096.post-64704108508987980832010-02-06T23:33:21.694-05:002010-02-06T23:33:21.694-05:00It's interesting, this need to understand.
I ...It's interesting, this need to understand.<br /><br />I grew up in a denomination that believes the bible to be verbally inspired, inerrant and infallible. So I understand why some Christians think that the only belief they can hold on homosexuality is that it's always wrong.<br /><br />But what I <i>don't</i> understand is the reactions I see of some Christians toward gay people. I don't understand the fear. I don't understand the argument that gay partnerships are a threat to heterosexual families. And I don't understand it when I sometimes see people getting angry about people who they don't even know being gay.<br /><br />But maybe I'm not supposed to understand everything. Maybe there is a way to have an exchange of ideas without understanding everything. Maybe we have to sometimes take it on faith that other people believe what they believe with the best of intentions.PamBGhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/11324370506889227234noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6023809369245556096.post-62864102147652459652010-02-04T18:25:04.280-05:002010-02-04T18:25:04.280-05:00Oh how I wish my husband had had the courage to co...Oh how I wish my husband had had the courage to come out to me instead of acting covertly on his sexual urges and eventually ending up with HIV. Yes, I would have been upset, but I'm not sure I'd have felt so much anger and bitterness over his deceit and lies. Now we're entangled in a bitter divorce where he's trying to defend his behavior by lying about me.<br /><br />Bless you, Carol, and the work you do to spread the truth.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6023809369245556096.post-28329448195095025602010-02-04T18:03:42.049-05:002010-02-04T18:03:42.049-05:00Not being privy to the fuller context of your firs...Not being privy to the fuller context of your first quote, I can only wonder what exactly your reader is trying to understand. More specifically, I find myself wondering if she's trying to reach a level of understanding that is both unnecessary and impossible.<br /><br />One thing that life has taught me is that there are limits to my own experiences, and those limits mean that I can't fully understand the experiences and lives of other people. For example, I can't understand what it was like for one of my friends to live with multiple personalities, no matter how hard I might try.<br /><br />Fortunately, I don't think that kind of understanding is necessary. Instead, I think that an attempt at understanding -- but more importantly an attempt at <i>empathy</i> -- is all that is necessary. And it sounds to me that your reader is well on their way to that.<br /><br />I also think that Kathy was onto something by resorting to analogies. Oftentimes, I find that imperfect understanding and empathy is best achieved when we try to find common ground in our own limited experiences. For example, a straight person may never fully understand what it means to be gay, but a straight person who grew up with overly critical parents or in a church obsessed with "confessing sins" might be able to understand me when I talk about the feelings of never being "good enough." They can understand those feelings because they've experienced them in their own lives, albeit for different reasons. And that kind of understanding and empathy, even if "incomplete," can mean a great deal.Jarredhttp://musings.northerngrove.com/noreply@blogger.com